Coincidentally I just did a talk at Perth.Net about my RPi controlled Christmas lights, though mostly I’m driving 5V RGB addressable ones, not just slaving normal Bunnings lights.
For these I’d definitely recommend just using a relay on the low voltage side, and leave the 240v bits well alone. It’s possible to get 240v control kits, but ones that are actually compliant are rare (I think there was a thread about this years ago, but the normal problem is not the electrics, but the physical safety, like cable clamps to stop the 240 side pulling out exposing live etc...). You can just get little 12V relays like that in Jaycar / Altronics etc... (either DC or AC depending on your lights). I’ve not done the sync to music thing, but as I understand it you typically use dedicated sequencer software to set it all up, normally using DMX kit mind. There used to be a really good forum where they discussed all this stuff, but seems to have gone astray. Oz Christmas Lights or something (but that site seems to be something else now) From: Grant Molloy Sent: Wednesday, 4 November 2015 12:55 PM To: ozDotNet Subject: Re: .Net Micro Framework Hi Mike, I'm talking about using the led string lights from Bunnings and the like which have the 240-12v power pack converters.. What I've seen is a micro controller flicking relays which turn the 240v power on/off for the strings of lights. I guess you could leave the power on, and cut into the 12v line, and make a switch there! Grant On Wed, Nov 4, 2015 at 2:39 PM, mike smith <[email protected]> wrote: Individually addressable? Otherwise, the stuff jaycar, dicksmith sell should do. If you keep it to LEDs it gets a lot easier and safer. TBH, the mucking around with incandescent 240 isn't worth it. On Wed, Nov 4, 2015 at 12:59 PM, Grant Molloy <[email protected]> wrote: Hi all, Just wondering if anyone's played around with syncing christmas lights to music using the .Net micro framework and an Arduino, Fez Panda, raspberry pie,etc or even a laptop? I've found some things online but nothing with a real good tutorial with schematics for the micocontroller to 240v wiring etc.. thanks Grant -- Meski http://courteous.ly/aAOZcv "Going to Starbucks for coffee is like going to prison for sex. Sure, you'll get it, but it's going to be rough" - Adam Hills
